Dislodging and disintegrating mechanism for mining apparatus



Oct. 30, 1956 J. D. RUSSELL 2,753,820

DIsLoDGING AND DISINTEGRATING MEcHANrsM FOR MINING APPARATUS Filed om.. 28. 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f Ingenio@ @2222 a@ ZMQZ,

Oct. 30, 1956 1 D, RUSSELL 2,768,820

DISLODGING AND DISINTEGRATING MECHANISM FOR MINING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1950 United States Patent O DSLDGING AND DlSINTEGRATING MECHA- NISM FOR MINING APPARATUS John D. Russell, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Gctober 28, 1950, Serial No. 192,647

Claims. (Cl. 262 9) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism for a continuous mining apparatus for removing mineral, :such as coal, from a solid mine vein.

In a continuous mining apparatus of a known type, a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism or so-called digging head is mounted on a mobile support to move rectilinear-ly in a horizontal plane and to swing in a vertical plane, and embodies a series of closely spaced, parallel, endless disintegrating chains arranged side by side to circulate in parallel vertical orbits, and such disintegrating chains carry numerous relatively closely spaced cutter bits which serve to penetrate and dig or tear away the mineral from a solid mine vein. The dislodging and disintegrating mechanism of such known type, as it is sumped rectilinearly into the mineral vein, swung vertically in an arcuate path and withdrawn rectilinearly from the mine vein, has its series of disintegrating chains rapidly circulating in their orbits and the multiplicity of closely spaced cutter bits of the chains, when operating in minerals having certain characteristics, so tear away the mineral, such as coal, that the latter is reduced to a substantial proportion of small fragments or lines which are of less commercial value than are relatively large lumps or fragments. The present invention contemplates improvements of such known type of dislodging and disintegrating mechanism in that improved dislodging and disintegrating devices are associated with a pair of parallel side disintegrating chains which carry orbitally movable cutter bits so that the mineral, such as coal, intermediate the parallel slots or notches formed by the side cutter chains is effectively dislodged in relatively large lumps or fragments. In accordance with the present invention, oscillatory, impact imparting breaker devices are arranged intermediate the parallel side disintegrating chains at the outer end of the dislodging and disintegrating mechanism, and these oscillatory breaker devices cooperate with a centrally located rotary disintegrating device in the dislodging :and disintegrating of the solid coal between the side disintegrating chains. rl`hus, coal may be dislodged from a soli-d coal seam with a greater proportion of lump coal of greater commercial value than that heretofore produced by a continuous mining apparatus of 'the known type above referred to. Embodied in the dislodging and disintegrating mechanism or socalled digging head of the present invention is improved conveying means mounted to swing vertically with the head yand arranged to receive the disintegrated coal as it is dislodged from the face of the mine vein and to move the disintegrated coal rapidly in a rearward direction from the vicinity of the coal face.

An `object of the present invention is to provide an improved disintegrating mechanism or digging head espe- 'cially designed for use in the continuous mining of mineral such as coal from a solid mine vein. Another object is to provide an improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism having improved dislodging and'disintegrating devices whereby mineral such as coal may be disdisclosed in my application above referred to.

ICE

lodged in relatively large fragments or lumps from a solid mine vein. Yet -another object is to provide an improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism having improved oscillatory, impact type breaker devices which dig into and tear away the mineral in relatively large lumps from the solid. A further object is to provide an improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism having parallel endless side disintegrating chains between which, at the outer portion of the mechanism, are arranged oscillatory, impact imparting devices which have associated therewith an intermediate rotary disintegrator whereby the coal intermediate the slots or notches produced by the side chains and the rotary disintegrator may be broken away in relatively large fragments or lumps. A still further object is to provide in a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism of `the above character, improved conveying means mounted on the mechanism for receiving the disintegrated coal as rapidly as it is dislodged from the face and for conveying the disintegrated coal in a `rearward direction from the vicinity of the face. Still another object is to provide an improved oscillatory, impact type breaker device having a novel driving means which is driven through the endless side disintegrating chains of the dislodging and disintegrating mechanism. A further object is to provide an improved mounting means and eccentric driving means for `an oscillatory breaker device. rihese and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the ensuing description.

in the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

in these drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism constructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical ysection taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 i-s an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l, showing details of the mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the drive.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 6 6 of Fig. 2, showing one of the oscillatory breaker devices in detail.

The improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism, or so-called digging head, is generally designated 1, and, for illustrative purposes, is shown embodied in a continuous mining apparatus which may be similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 102,995, tiled iuly 5, 1949. Evidently, the mechanism of the present invention may be associated with other types of mining apparatus, and it is not the desire to limit the invention to the particular form of mining apparatus with which it may be associated.

The continuous mining apparatus, of which only a fragment is disclosed herein, has a mobile base and includes a movable support 2, having spaced forward side frame portions 3 and which is mounted for rectilinear guided movement along a horizontal path as well as for bodily movement over the mine door with its mobile base during tramming and maneuvering of the apparatus, as is fully The improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism or digging head 1 includes a frame or bar structure 4, pivotally mounted at 5 to swing in a vertical plane with respect to the support 2. The mechanism for swinging the frame or bar structure 4 upwardly about its pivot may be similar to that described in my copending application, Serial No. 139,631, tiled January 2:9, i950, now abandoned, and

includes upright hydraulic cylinders 7 secured to the sides of the frame structure 4 and containing pistons 8 having downwardly extending piston rods 9 pivotally connected at their lower ends at 10 to levers 11 at points between the ends of the latter, as shown in Fig. 1. These levers are pivotally connected at 12 to the sides of the pivoted frame structure and are pivotally connected at 13, at their rear ends to exible chain sections 14 which lie around curved surfaces 15 on the side portions 3 of the support 2 and which are attached at 16 to the tops of the side portions 3. Thus, when liquid under pressure is supplied to the upper ends of the cylinders 7, the latter move upwardly with the pivoted frame or bar structure 4 to swing the latter upwardly about its pivot. When liquid is trapped in the cylinders the frame or bar structure 4 is locked in adjusted position, and when liquid is suitably vented from the cylinders the frame structure may swing downwardly under the influence of gravity, at a controlled rate. It will be evident that the dislodging and disintegrating mechanism may be supported and swung about its pivot in various other manners.

Now referring to the specic structure of the improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism, which embodies improvements over that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 181,977, filed August 29, 1950, it will be noted that the swingable frame or bar structure 4 includes parallel upright side frame members 18 providing marginal guideways in which endless side disintegrating chains 19 are guided for circulation in parallel vertical orbits. These side chains each include a series of chain blocks 20 pivotally connected by strap links 21, and the chain blocks have lateral lugs 22 provided with sockets for receiving disintegrating instruments 23 desirably in the form of conventional cutter bits or teeth. The parallel side frames of the swingable bar structure are rigidly united in parallel spaced relation by suitable cross frame portions 24, and secured to the outer sides of the side frames 18, inwardly of the lifting cylinders 7, as shown in Fig. 2, are brackets 25 having rearward circular bearing portions 26 (See Fig. 5) pivotally mounted on bearing sleeves 27 carried by circular bearing supports 28 secured to the inner sides of the frame portions 3 of the support 2. Arranged coaxially with the bearings in alignment with the pivotal axis 5 of the swingable frame structure is a horizontal drive shaft 29 which is driven at its ends by gears 30 contained within the frame portion 3, in the manner disclosed in the above mentioned application, Serial No. 102,995. Keyed to this shaft inwardly of the bearing portions 26 are chain sprockets 31 which engage and drive the endless side disintegrating chains 19.

Guided for circulation within suitable guideways on the swingable frame structure 4 and extending forwardly and downwardly is a conventional endless flight conveyor 33 having a central drive chain 34 guided at its forward receiving portion by a guide 35 (Fig. 3) on a transverse shaft 36 suitably mounted within depending frame portions 37 at the sides of the swingable frame structure, and at its rearward portion engaging a drive sprocket 38 keyed to the shaft 29 midway between the ends of the latter, as shown in Fig. 5. Secured at intervals to this circular drive chain 34 are cross flights 39 which travel, at the upper run of the conveyor, rearwardly along an inclined transverse plate 40 rigidly secured to the inner sides of the side frames 18 and which provides the bottom of a troughlike passageway extending longitudinally within the frame structure intermediate the parallel side frames 18.

The side disintegrating chains 19 pass around, and are guided at their forward portions by, chain sprockets 41 (Fig, 4) having hubs 42 journaled on bearings 43 supported by a front cross shaft 44 extending across the outer portion of the swingable frame structure 4 between the side frames 18 and rigidly secured by end caps 45, in turn suitably secured, as by screws, to the outer sides of the side frames. Surrounding the cross shaft 44 is a coaxial tubular shaft 47 which is coupled at 48 at its ends to and is supported by the hubs 42 of the chain sprockets 41. Arranged centrally between the side disintegrating chains 19, and having its hub 49 keyed to the tubular shaft 47, is a rotary dislodging and disintegrating member or rotary toothed disintegrator 50 which has rigidly secured thereto blocks 51, similar in structure to the chain blocks 20, and having lateral socketed lugs 52 for receiving cutter bits or teeth 53, similar to the cutter bits or teeth 23 of the side disintegrating chains.

The cutter bits or teeth of the side disintegrating chains 19 and of the intermediate disintegrator 50 are relatively inclined or staggered to provide for proper lacing thereof so that the bits or teeth may cut or dig into the coal to provide slots or notches which receive the guide frames for the chains and the hub of the rotary member, in the general manner of conventional mining machine cutter chains.

In this improved construction, arranged in the annular spaces surrounding the shaft 47 intermediate the central rotary disintegrator 50 and the side disintegrating chains 19 are oscillatory, impact type breakers, or dislodging devices, generally designated 55, operating in vertical planes and which serve to strike against and tear or break away the portions of the coal formed between the intermediate and side slots or notches provided in the coal by the rotary disintegrator and the endless side disintegrating chains.

Now referring to the specific structure of the breaker devices 55, it will be noted that keyed to the front tubular shaft 47 at opposite sides of the central rotary disintegrator 50, are eccentrics 56 which support bearing sleeves 57, and surrounding and engaging these sleeves are generally annular body portions 58 of the breaker devices. Each annular body portion 58 is desirably composed of two similar parts, 59 and 60, rigidly held together by screws 61, as shown in Fig. 4. The generally annular body portions 58 of the breaker devices have rearward arms 63 pivotally connected at their rear ends at 64 to floating arms 65 which are secured as by welding to transverse shafts 66, suitably journaled in bearing sleeves 67 supported within brackets 68 desirably formed integral with the cross portion of the swingable frame structure 4. Formed at the forward and upper side of the body portions 58 are spaced toothlike or pointed projections 69 which may have Wear resisting material applied thereto and which provide teeth which are adapted to engage and break or tear away the solid coal. The projections 69 are desirably of wedge shape in cross section, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and have a splitting action on the projections of mineral between the parallel vertical slots formed by the side chains and the central rotary cutter, and cause deection of the split mineral toward the side chains and the central rotary cutter to enable the chains and rotary cutter to move the dislodged mineral away from the Working face. From the foregoing it is evident that, when the shaft 47 is driven by the side chains 19, the eccentrics 56 effect an oscillatory motion of the breaker devices to move the teeth 69 thereof in vertical non-circular orbital paths to effect dislodgment of the coal between the slots or notches. The pivoted arms 65 which are pivotally connected to the arms 63 of the oscillatory frames serve to guide the latter during their oscillatory movement, so as to confine the movement of the teeth 69 to fixed orbital paths. From the foregoing it is evident that the teeth 23 of the endless side disintegrating chains 19 and the teeth 53 of the rotary disintegrator 50 continuously engage the mineral during the disintegrating operation to form parallel slots or kerfs therein while the teeth 69 of the oscillatory breaker or pick devices 55 intermittently engage the mineral between the slots or kerfs, and the oscillatory teeth periodically deliver picking blows to the mineral to be dislodged with each breaker tooth imparting but a single picking blow upon each complete revolution of the rotary disintegrator 50. Evidently, the oscillatory frames may be guided in various conventional manners other than that disclosed.

The orbitally moving teeth of the endless side chains and the intermediate rotary cutter continuously engage the mineral during the dislodging and disintegrating operation to form parallel kerfs or slots in the mineral while the pick devices periodically engage the cores of mineral between the kerfs or slots to break away the cores, and the intervals between successive actions of said pick de- Vices on the mineral diifering from the intervals between the initiations of successive actions of the teeth on said continuously orbitally moving toothed cutters. In other words, the mean rate of travel of the toothed projections on the oscillatory cutters is different from the rate of travel of the teeth of said disintegrating chains and said rotary cutter while such teeth exert a disintegrating action on the mineral.

The dislodged and disintegrated coal or other mineral is moved rearwardly along the top of the mechanism by the disintegrating chains, the rotary disintegrator and the oscillatory breakers, and is directed by a curved deflector 70 located rearwardly of the disintegrator and breaker devices, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the disintegrated coal is directed by this deilector onto the conveyor, and the latter moves the disintegrated coal rearwardly along the troughlike passageway between the side frames to discharge rearwardly of the pivot of the frame structure, as for example onto a conventional flight conveyor 71, carried by the support 2, as shown in Fig. 2.

During operation of the improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism the latter may swing downwardly about its pivot 5 until its outer portion assumes a position near the level of the mine door and as the disintegrating chains 19, the rotary disintegrator Si) and the oscillatory breakers S5 are driven, as above described, the support 2 may be moved rectilinearly forwardly in a horizontal plane to sump the outer portion of the mechanism into the coal. Upon completion of the sumping movement of the mechanism the latter may be swung upwardly about its pivot by the hydraulic cylinders 7 thereby to move the outer portion of the mechanism in an arcuate path up to the roof, and thereafter the support 2 may be retracted rectilinearly to withdraw the outer portion of the mechanism from the coal. Since-the general mode of operation of a continuous mining apparatus with which the dislodging and disintegrating mechanism is aS- sociated isv fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial 102,995 mentioned above, further detailed description of its general mode of operation is herein unnecessary.

As the dislodging and disintegrating mechanism is operated in the manner above described to effect removal of mineral, such as coal, from Aa solid mine vein the side disintegrating chains 19 and the central rotary disintegrator Si) form slots or notches in the solid coal, and the oscillatory breaker devices 55 impart an irnpactlike, tearing or ripping action to the coal intermediate the notches or slots thereby to dislodge the coal in relatively large fragments. As rapidly as the coal is dislodged from the solid mine vein it is moved rearwardly along the top of the mechanism by the side disintegrating chains 19, the rotary disintegrator Sil and the teeth of the oscillatory breaker devices S5, and is directed by the curved deflector plate '70 onto the conveyor 33 which rapidly conveys the disintegrated coal away from the vicinity of the coal face. As the oscillatory breaker devices are actuated by the eccentrics 56 driven by the side chains 19 the teeth 69 of the oscillatory frames are driven forwardly to penetrate the coal and are moved upwardly and rearwardly to tear away the coal in relatively large lumps.

It will be evident that under certain conditions the central rotary disintegrator may be replaced by a third oscillatory breaker device, in such manner as to be driven by the tubular shaft 47, either in step or out of step with the other breaker devices. The arrangement disclosed is., however, preferable under most mining conditions.

As a result of this invention an improved dislodging and disintegrating mechanism or so-called digging head is provided which is especially designed for use in a continuous mining apparatus for breaking and tearing away coal or other mineral from a solid mine vein. By the provision of the oscillatory breaker devices which act in conjunction with the side disintegrating chains the coal is dislodged from the solid in relatively large lumps or fragments thereby to produce a more commercially salable product. The oscillatory breaker devices are relatively simple and compact in design and their novel manner of arrangement in association with the side chains and the central rotary disintegrator provides a structure which effectively removes the coal from the solid without producing a large proportion of small fragments or iines." The novel arrangement of the conveyor within the frame of the mechanism enables the etiicient removal of the disintegrated coal as it is dislodged from the face. ri`he mechanism is compact and rugged in design, well adapted for its intended purpose. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the. scope of the appended claims.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism for removing mineral from a solid mine vein comprisingV a swingable supporting frame pivoted near one end and roviding parallel guideways extending longitudinally at its sides, endless toothed side disintegrating chains guided for orbital circulation about said guideways for continuously engaging the mineral to cut parallel kerfs therein, sprockets journaled at theouter portion of said frame and engaged and driven by said chains, oscillatory breaker means arranged at the forward portion of said supporting frame for periodically engaging the mineral between the kerfs, and means driven by said sprockets for oscillating said breaker means, said breaker means comprising an oscillatory body having a series of tooth-like projections movable back and forth at the forward portion of said mechanism and exerting a breaking action on the mineral during a portion ot their back and forth movement, the mean rate of travel of said toothiike projections during their travel in the portion of their back and forth movement in which they exert a breaking action on the mineral being different from the rate of travel of the teeth of said disintegrating chains while such teeth exert a disintegrating action on the mineral.

2. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism for removing mineral from a solid mine Vein comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a pair of endless toothed side disintegrating chains guided for movement along the sides of said supporting frame in parallel vertical orbits, a rotary disintegrator mounted at the forward portion of said frame midway between said side chains and having teeth movable in circular orbits, said side chains and said rotary disintegrator upon orbital movement ol' the teeth thereof continuously engaging the mineral to cut parallel slots therein, oscillatory breaker devices arranged between said rotary disintegrator and said side chains for periodically engaging the mineral between the slots, said breaker devices each comprising an oscillatory body having spaced toothlike projections moving back and forth through relatively short orbital paths at the forward portions of said chains and said rotary disintegrator, and means for driving said side chains, said rotary disintegrator and said oscillatory 'i 7 breaker devices in unison, the intervals between successive actions of one of said breaker devices on the mineral being substantially greater than the intervals between the initiations of successive tooth actions on the mineral.

3. In a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism, the combination comprising a supporting frame, a pair of parallel endless toothed side disintegrating chains guided for orbital movement at the sides of said frame, sprockets journaled at the outer portion of said supporting frame and engaged and driven by said side chains, a coaxial cross shaft extending between and connected to said sprockets, a rotary disintegrator having teeth movable in circular orbits and secured to said shaft midway between said side chains, said endless side chains and said rotary disintegrator upon orbital movement thereof continuously engaging the mineral to cut parallel slots therein, oscillatory breaker devices mounted on said shaft between said rotary disintegrator and said side chains for periodically engaging the mineral between the slots, means driven by said shaft for driving said breaker devices, said breaker devices each including an oscillatory body having a series of spaced toothlike projections moving back and forth through non-circular orbital paths at the forward portion of said chains and said rotary disintegrator, and a movable guiding connection between each of said oscillatory devices and said supporting frame, the intervals between successive actions of one of said breaker devices on the mineral being substantially greater than the intervals between the initiations of successive actions of the teeth of one of said continuously orbitally moving side disintegrating chains on the mineral.

4. In a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism, the combination comprising a supporting frame, a pair of parallel endless toothed side disintegrating chains guided for orbital movement at the sides of said frame, sprockets journaled at the outer portion of said frame and engaged and driven by said side chains, a coaxial cross shaft extending between and connected to said sprockets, a rotary disintegrator having orbitally movable teeth and secured to said shaft midway between said side chains, said endless side disintegrating chains and said rotary disintegrator continuously engaging the mineral to cut parallel slots therein, oscillatory breaker devices mounted on said shaft between said rotary disintegrator and said side chains for periodically engaging the mineral between the slots, means driven by said shaft for oscillating said breaker devices including eccentrics secured to said shaft, said breaker devices including oscillatory frames carrying spaced disintegrating teeth and mounted on and engaging said eccentrics, said eccentrics when said shaft is rotated effecting oscillation of said frames to move said teeth back and forth through orbital paths at the forward portions of said side chains and said rotary disintegrator, and connections between the rearward portionsfof said oscillatory frames and said supporting frame for guiding said oscillatory frames during their oscillatory move- Vment, the intervals between successive actions of said breaker devices on the mineral being substantially greater than the intervals between the initiations of successive actions of the teeth of one of said continuously orbitally moving side disintegrating chains on the mineral.

5. In a dislodging and disintegrating mechanism, the combination comprising a supporting frame, a pair of disintegrating devices mounted at the sides of said frame and having orbitally movable disintegrating elements, a centrally located disintegrating device mounted on said frame intermediate said side disintegrating devices and having orbitally movable disintegrating elements, said disintegrating devices upon orbital movement thereof continuously engaging the mineral to cut parallel kerfs therein, oscillatory breaker devices mounted on said frame between said central device and said side devices for periodically engaging the mineral between the kerfs, said breaker devices each embodying an oscillatory frame having spaced breaker teeth movable through relatively short paths at the forward portion of said mechanism, and means for driving said disintegrating and breaker devices in unison, the intervals between successive actions of said breaker devices on the mineral being substantially greater than the intervals between the initiations of the disintegrating elements of said disintegrating devices on the mineral.

6. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism comprising a movable head structure having a series of parallel, continuously orbitally moving, toothed cutters for forming parallel slots in the mineral of a solid mine vein, oscillatory pick devices arranged on said head structure intermediate said toothed cutters and each embodying an oscillatory frame having spaced breaker teeth movable through relatively short paths at the forward portion of said mechanism for periodically imparting picking blows to the projections of mineral between the slots to break away such projections and for causing movement of the broken mineral toward said cutters, and driving means for said toothed cutters and said pick devices for effecting movements of the same in orbital paths, the intervals between successive actions of said pick devices on the mineral differing from the intervals between the initiations of successive tooth actions of said cutters on the mineral.

7. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said oscillatory pick devices have forward pick portions of wedge-shaped cross section providing a cutting edge at the wedge-apex, said vpick devices upon oscillation thereof dislodging the projections of mineral between the slots with a lateral splitting action and said wedge-shaped pick portions deecting the split mineral laterally in opposite directions toward said parallel toothed cutters.

8. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said toothed cutters include outer cutters and a cross shaft is journaled on the outer portion of said head structure and is driven by said outer cutters, and eccentrics are mounted on and driven by said shaft for actuating said pick devices, and said oscillatory pick devices having body portions surrounding said shaft and engaging said eccentrics.

9. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cutters include a toothed cutter between said outer cutters and said intermediate toothed cutter is secured to said shaft intermediate said oscillatory pick devices and is driven by said shaft.

i0. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism as set vforth in claim 8 wherein said head structure has side portions on which said outer cutters are mounted and a cross connecting shaft extends between and is rigidly connected to said side frame portions, said first mentioned cross shaft being tubular and said cross connecting shaft extending axially through said tubular shaft, and said cross connecting shaft supporting bearings on which said tubular shaft is rotatably supported.

11. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism comprising a movable head frame having side portions providing guideways about which endless toothed disintegrating chains are guided for continuous orbital circulation for cutting parallel slots in the mineral of a solid mine vein, a cross shaft journaled on the outer portion of said head frame intermediate said side portions and driven by said side chains, and osciliatory pick devices mounted on said head frame intermediate said side chains and embodying a series of spaced teeth movable back and forth in relatively small non-circular orbits at the forward portion of said mechanism for periodically imparting picking blows to the mineral between said slots to dislodge such projections and for causing movement of the dislodged mineral toward said chains, and driving means for said pick devices including actuating elements mounted on and driven by said cross shaft and operatively connected to said breaker devices, the intervals between successive actions of one of said pick devices on the mineral being substantially greater than the intervals between the initiations of successive actions of the teeth of said disintegrating chains on the mineral.

12. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 11 wherein a rotary toothed disintegrating wheel is arranged on said head frame centrally between said side chains and is mounted on and driven by said cross shaft, and said oscillatory pick devices are arranged on said head frame between said rotary disintegrating wheel and said side chains and having portions surrounding said cross shaft.

13. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein eccentrics are mounted on said shaft for driving said pick devices and the latter having body portions surrounding said cross shaft and engaging said eccentrics, and said body portions having rearward guiding portions, and loose pivotal connections are provided between said rearward guiding portions and said head frame for guiding said pick devices during their oscillatory movement.

14. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism comprising a movable head frame, oscillatory pick devices mounted on said head frame each comprising an oscillatory body provided with a wedge-shaped forward splitting portion having spaced apart picklike projections moving back and forth through relatively short irregularshaped orbital paths at the forward portion of said mechanism periodically to impart picking blows to the mineral to dislodge the mineral laterally in opposite directions, said pick devices each provided with a centrally located splitting edge for imparting splitting blows to the solid mineral to dislodge the latter and for dellecting the dislodged mineral laterally in opposite directions, and means on said head frame for driving said pick devices as aforesaid relative to said head frame to effect oscillation of said pick-bodies to effect a picking action.

15. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism comprising a movable head frame, oscillating pick devices mounted on said head frame each comprising an oscillatory body provided with a wedge-shaped forward splitting portion having spaced projections movable back and forth through relatively short orbital paths at the forward portion of said mechanism and each provided with a centrally located splitting edge for imparting splitting blows to the solid mineral to dislodge the latter and for deflecting the dislodged mineral laterally in opposite directions, and means on said head frame for driving said pick devices as aforesaid relative to said head frame to effect oscillation of said pick-bodies, said driving means including eccentrics which are surrounded by said body portions and with which said body portions are engaged, said body portions having rearward laterally bent guiding portions extending in opposite directions toward the sides of said frame, and loose connections between said rearward guiding portions and said frame for guiding said bodies of said pick devices during their oscillatory movements.

16. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism comprising a movable head frame, a disintegrating cutter mounted on said head frame and having orbitally movable cutter teeth for continuously engaging the mineral, pick devices mounted on said head frame at the opposite sides of said disintegratng cutter and having spaced projections provided with oppositely directed splitting surfaces and movable back and forth relative to said frame through relatively short non-circular paths at the forward portion of said mechanism for imparting repeated splitting blows to the mineral of a solid mine vein for splitting the mineral and for deecting the split mineral laterally in opposite directions toward said disintegrating cutter, and means on said frame for driving said disintegrating cutter and said pick devices, the intervals between successive actions of said pick devices on the mineral being substantially greater than the intervals between the initiations of successive actions of the teeth of said cutter on the mineral.

17. A dislodging and disintegrating mechanism cornprising a rotary head having disintegrating teeth movable orbitally for tearing away the mineral of a solid mine vein, said head having an annular space surrounding the axis of head-rotation between certain of its teeth, said teeth dislodging the mineral contacted thereby but leaving a corelike projection at said annular space where there are no teeth, the corelike projection entering said annular space during the dislodging operation, an oscillatory core splitter mounted on said head and arranged in said head-space for contacting and breaking away the corelike projection, an eccentric on said head engaging said splitter for oscillating the latter, and driving means for moving said head teeth orbitally and for rotating said eccentric.

18. A mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein said core splitter has a sharp forward, centrally located, splitting portion and oppositely inclined side surfaces which, upon contact with the corelike projection, effects splitting thereof and the split fragments being deflected laterally toward the paths of the adjacent teeth.

19. A mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rotary head has an additional annular space surrounding the axis of head-rotation in parallelism with said rst mentioned space and said spaces spaced apart equidistantly from a point midway between the ends of said head, and a core splitter is arranged in each space, and eccentric driving means is provided for said last-mentioned core splitter.

20. A mechanism as set forth in claim 19 wherein said rotary head has a rotary-toothed disintegrator portion intermediate said annular spaces With said intermediate portion carrying teeth moving in circular orbits, the centers of which coincide with the axes of rotation of said eccentrics.

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